In its five victories, Modesto has averaged 40 point-per-game. In their five losses, the Panthers scored just 14 ppg. So, which team will show up Friday at Sheldon to play for a spot in the Quarter-Finals?

That remains to be seen, but what is known, is that Modesto likes to run the football. An imposing corps of Running backs headline the Panthers’ offense. RBs Zaire Eugene (758 yds.) and James Hayes (612 yds.) lead the way, and Daeveon Graves (390 yds.) and Alonzo Rodriguez (305 yds.) pick up the slack.Wide receiver and Kick Return Specialist, Jaquile Ingram is a big play game-breaker.

Sheldon’s #8 Tyrell Smith picks up a loose ball after a blocked punt and returns the fumble 17 yards for a TD vs. Franklin Oct. 26

The burden for both clubs rests on their respective defensive units. Whichever team can slow and contain its opponent to fewer rushing yards should prevail. However, the wild card is the passing game, which generally provides just a meager contribution in the Total Offense category, but may be the ultimate X-Factor that provides the deciding points and winning margin.

Announcers (from left) Jim Dimino, Will James and Lauren Goodman.

Access Sacramento Announcer’s Will James and Jim Dimino call the action with Lauren Goodman on the sidelines for updates and player or coach interviews. Game of the Week is now in its 21st season providing coverage of Sacramento County high school and college athletics.

Regular-season high school football action in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section concludes this week as contending teams vying for a post-season playoff berth are going to the whip as they charge down the home stretch.

This 7:00 pm game may be seen on Comcast Cable channel 17, Consolidated Communications channel 17, and AT&T U-Verse channel 14. The game will also be streamed live on accesssacramento.org and the NFHS Network.

Any urgency or stress leading up to Friday’s final is unnecessary because the immediate football future for both teams has already been determined; futures that represent both ends of the spectrum.

Host Franklin, under new Head Coach, Evan Boylan, has endured a not-so-predictable slump in the wake of former Head Coach, Mike Johnson’s retirement from coaching. The extent of this slump is represented in the team’s 2-7 overall record, and just a 1-4 mark in Delta League play; a record far from Franklin’s customary excellence that had registered post-season appearances in 10 of the previous 11 seasons under Johnson.

Nevertheless, the Wildcats will bring their best effort Friday evening vs. Delta League Champion, Sheldon. Junior QB Brandon Rundgren has passed for 1297 yards with 50% accuracy and delivered 8 TD passes, but has also thrown 12 interceptions.

Linebackers Reagan Fonbuena and Elijah Cardenas are the teams top tacklers, registering 123 stops between them, and Senior DE, Alon Dorsey, is a leader on the defensive line, totaling 31 tackles and 4 sacks.

In extreme contrast to the Wildcats, Joe Cattolico‘s Sheldon Huskies have once again had another excellent season, clinching the tough Delta League championship with a clutch 27-21 OT victory over Jesuit last week.

In the opening round of CIF-Sac Joaquin Section Playoffs, the Sheldon Huskies defeated the Cosumnes Oaks Wolfpack 38-8 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Division 1 football playoffs during Access Sacramento’s Game of the Week.

Announcers Will James and Jim Dimino call the highlights.

Cosumnes Oaks Quarterback #11 Larry Frierson

The full TV replay of the game can be seen Sat. Nov. 11 9 a.m., Sun. Nov. 12 3 a.m., Tues. Nov.14 at 7 p.m., Wed. Nov. 15 at 11 a.m. and Thurs. Nov. 16 at 3 a.m. Watch on Comcast or Consolidated Communications cable channel 17, AT&T U-Verse channel 14 or streaming from AccessSacramento.org. The video on demand can be seen on the NFHS Network.

Sheldon #21 Austyn Hurts sprints out for a touchdown.

Access Sacramento will broadcast the Div. 2 quarterfinal with Sacramento at Del Campo on Friday Nov. 17 Live at 7pm. the Live stream and only be seen on the NFHS Network.

The regular season for high school football has concluded and the post-season is upon us. Beginning Thursday, because of Friday’s observance of the Veteran’s Day national holiday, opening round playoff games will kickoff throughout the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section.

Announcers Will James & Jim Dimino for Access Sacramento’s Game of the Week.

This live telecast called by Access Sacramento announcers Will James and Jim Dimino beginning at 7:00 pm, may be seen on Comcast channel 17, Consolidated Communications channel 17, and AT&T U-Verse channel 14. The game will only be streamed on the NFHS Network.

Sheldon Head Coach, Joe Cattolico, guided the Huskies through the rugged Delta League en route to another excellent 8-2 record, further confirming Sheldon’s return to prominence as a serious SJS title contender. Sheldon’s only losses were dealt by a pair of heavyweights, #4 seed Jesuit and Nevada state powerhouse, Reno High School.

Cosumnes Oaks ran the gauntlet this year, losing its first three games then slugging its way through a rugged Capital Valley Conference slate to win its last three games and pull even at 5-5 to draw the #11 seed. Despite their unimpressive record this season, the Pack is not to be played short.

Derick Milgrim’s Wolfpack is explosive and has enough punching power to flatten most of the ranked teams on any given night. While in the process of winning its last three games, the Pack continued to play with greater consistency and better execution. Suffice to say, the Wolfpack in Week-11 does not match the impressions some scouts may have formed early in the season.

Collins and Moore each have seven TD receptions. Collins has also returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, and an interception for a touchdown. RB Jacob Trach is another big-play back, compiling 1225 total yards and 9 TD as a RB/REC/KR. Collins, Moore, and Trach, and occasionally-used WR/KR Corey Perkins, are important pieces of the puzzle.

Sheldon, with home field advantage and superior statistical accomplishments, appears as a clear favorite in this playoff opener. Nevertheless, the Huskies must bring their A-Game. Should the Wolfpack bring their A-Game as well, such a combo is bound to ignite some exciting fireworks.

With just two weeks remaining in high school football’s regular-season, contending teams are focusing on a big push to enhance their post-season prospects. Drawing only secondary attention among multiple Delta League marquee games this week, is an inconspicuous game that nevertheless holds significant importance to Delta League contenders.

It’s the 2016 edition of the Pleasant Grove vs. Sheldon neighborhood rivalry, which appears on the surface to be a one-sided match-up simply based on the respective records of each team, and the history of this rivalry.

However, Access Sacramento will be at Sheldon-Pleasant Grove Community Stadium to televise this contest on the Hometown Sports Game-of-the-Week. This live telecast may be seen Friday evening, Oct. 28 on Comcast Cable channel 17, Consolidated Communications channel 17, and AT&T U-Verse channel 14. The game will be re-played on the same channels Sat. Oct. 29 at 11:00 a.m. and Tues. Nov. 1 at 7:00 p.m. The game will also be streamed on AccessSacramento.org and the NFHS Network.

Below the surface, a prideful clash is lurking. Despite the amazing reality that the Eagles enter the contest winless on the season, while 7th-ranked Sheldon at 6-2 is in the hunt for the Delta League title, fierce competition has always punctuated this showdown.

Pleasant Grove has undergone major adversity since the 2014 season when Head Coach, Jason Rossow was forced to step aside and eventually resign due to health reasons following the Eagles’ 0-3 start. Under the guidance of Interim Head Coach Steve Robards, and Interim Assistant Coach Lew Lassiter, Pleasant Grove has remained competitive; witness its recent narrow 21-20 road loss to #8 Grant.

In less than full-time action, sophomore QB Sam Whiting has performed admirably under the circumstances, throwing for 4 TD with 6 interceptions. Running backs Deron Johnson Jr. and James Hampton headline the ground game. Versatile WR/FS Dawson Weber leads the Eagles in All-Purpose yards and heads the receiving corps with 21 catches and 2 TD.

Weber has also had a stellar season on defense, accounting for 54 tackles, with 5 interceptions and a fumble recovery. Leading tacklers

In addition to the ongoing rivalry element, the presence of Sheldon’s first-year coach adds further intrigue to the mix. The host Huskies are guided by Joe Cattolico, who was the founding head coach for Pleasant Grove from 2006-2013, where he posted a 77-25 record with four Delta River League titles and a 2010 CIF/SJS Division-1 Championship. The ingredients of a spicy contest.

Cattolico has picked up where he left off as the Huskies enter play tied for 2nd place in the Delta League, looking for a strong finish to forge a tie for the league title with either front-running Elk Grove or Davis.

Coach Mike Johnson’s offense controlled the ball for all but 2:30 minutes of the 4th quarter, marching down the field with drives of 53 yards in nine plays and 55 yards in 12 plays to set up Lindemann’s game-tieing and game-winning boots.

Lindemann had already missed two field goals in the first half, and Sheldon led 17-14 going to the 4th quarter.

Franklin’s Kaderro Tamondong celebrates after a 6-yard touchdown run with 2:11 left in the 2nd quarter.

The Sheldon offense came to the field only twice in the fourth quarter, achieving just one first down, and on its final possession gaining just six yards and taking :36 seconds off the clock on its final four plays in the last two minutes of the game.

Sheldon’s defense captured the lead just two minutes into the 2nd half when Izaiah McFalls returned an interception 46 yards to put the Huskies up 17-14, but Franklin controlled the pace the rest of the way, putting up 291 yards in total offense on 63 plays vs. Sheldon’s 197 yards on 45 plays.

Franklin’s first touchdown has Jalen Lampley diving into the endzone after a 15-yard dash.

TV replays of the full game can be seen on Access Sacramento Tues. Oct. 4 at 7:00 p.m. and Wed. Oct. 5 at 11 a.m. on Comcast or Consolidated Communications channel 17, AT&T U-Verse channel 14 and streaming from AccessSacramento.org at those times. The game is also available and video on demand from the NFHSnetwork.com

The Sierra Foothill League has long been considered the most competitive league in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section, and with good reason. The imposing presence of five elite programs packed into the seven-team league is impressive, if not intimidating. Perennial SFL heavyweights include Del Oro, Folsom, Granite Bay, Oak Ridge, and Rocklin. All five teams occupy positions in this week’s Dimino’s Dozen, the weekly high school football rankings compiled by Hometown Sports Game Analyst, Jim Dimino. Nevada Union and Woodcreek complete the SFL’s seven-team alignment.

However, the ever-dominant Delta League, which like the SFL has merged its two Delta Divisions into one, and now stands as tough as any league in the entire SJS. With their reputations among the local football community having preceded them, Elk Grove, Franklin, Grant, Jesuit, Monterey Trail, Davis and Sheldon form a Delta League line-up that reflects an aura of virtual invincibility amid its collection of playoff caliber teams that presently occupy five spots in this weeks Dimino’s Dozen high school football rankings. Also-ran spoilers Davis and Pleasant Grove complete the Delta membership, which brings us to this week’s story.

Access Sacramento’s television crew is primed to make a first-hand evaluation of Delta League superiority this week, and travels to Elk Grove for Friday evening’s telecast of the Sheldon Huskies vs. Franklin Wildcats clash at Cosumnes Oaks High School.

This live telecast may be seen on Comcast channel 17, on Consolidated Communications channel 17, and AT&T U-Verse channel 14. The game will be replayed Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m, and again Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m., and may be seen on the same channels. The game will also be streamed from AccessSacramento.org and the NFHS Network.

Two of the many intriguing highlights of this match-up are the impressive credentials and career accomplishments of two of the most highly regarded head coaches in the entire CIF Sac-Joaquin Section.

Franklin Head Coach Mike Johnson (Courtesy: SacBee.com)

Franklin Head Coach Mike Johnson is in his 14th campaign with the Wildcats where he has led them to a pair of Delta League crowns in 2009 & 2011. And before arriving at Franklin, Johnson guided Lincoln/Stockton to the SJS D-1 Championship in 2000 with a 35-28 overtime victory at UOP against heavily favored Elk Grove.

Johnson and his 15th-ranked Wildcats should appreciate playing on their shared home field at Cosumnes Oaks H.S.. Franklin began the season with three impressive victories. However, Friday they’ll bring a 3-1 mark into the contest after having been dismantled 56-0 by Grant last week.

Franklin needs a victory to even its Delta League record, and will rely heavily on an offense that predominately features its running game that produces more than 200 yards per game. The passing attack chips in with slightly more than 100 yards per game. Until last week the ‘Cats offense had been considered explosive, averaging 45 points per game. through its first three games before being blanked by the Pacers.

Sophomore QB Nico Regino has completed better than 50% of his passes to account for 6 TD and just 1 int. Regino has three excellent receivers including Juniors Brady Johnson and Jalen Lampley, and Senior Tariq Glenn. This trio has totaled 14 catches for 301 yards.

The Wildcats rushing attack is keyed by 3-year starter and 2-way (FB/LB) player, Kaderro Tamondong, who averages 7.5 yards per carry with 2 TD. Three outstanding Juniors provide a deep stock of RBs for the Wildcats. Taejon King, Lampley, and Zack Upshaw have motored for 459 yards. and 8 TD.

After eight highly successful years as the Pleasant Grove Head Coach and a 2-year hiatus from the coaching lines, Joe Cattolico returns to the sidelines as head man for the Sheldon Huskies. His impressive resume while guiding the Eagles includes four Delta League titles and a 2010 SJS D-1 Championship.

Cattolico has returned and is on a mission, opening the season with 4-straight wins including an impressive 27-22 victory over Monterey Trail last week. His career W-L record is 77-25.

Sheldon QB Chance LaChapelle

The Huskies score at a rate of 45 points per game, with an excellent balanced attack that totals 250 yards. per game on the ground, and 173 yards per game in the air. Senior QB Chancellor LaChapelle leads the way with nearly 700 yards. passing and a completion efficiency of 78%, while throwing 7 TD with just 1 Int.

The Huskies unleash a stingy defense that allows just 14 points per game. The Sheldon defense has come up with six takeaways, having recorded four interceptions, two fumble recoveries plus eight sacks. Defensive lineman Ravontae Holt, LBs Erwing, Oscar Gutierrez, and Allen, and DB Cook are the Huskies’ leading tacklers, recording more than 150 stops.

With these two coaches in place, motivation in abundance, and a high level of emotion swirling around the stadium Friday evening, this game will draw a major crowd, and should reflect heavy intensity and an atmosphere of playoff magnitude. This one will be a real show.

Access Sacramento will launch its 19th season of high school sports coverage with its live season-opening Game-of-the-Week football telecast on Friday, Sept. 2 when the Jesuit Marauders clash with the Folsom Bulldogs at Folsom’s Prairie City Stadium.

Will James and Jim Dimino

This game marks the first of 13 consecutive weeks of coverage that features nine regular season football games followed by three playoff games. A high profile girls volleyball match is also included in the Fall line-up when perennial power St. Francis visits El Camino in Week 2.

After volleyball, the remainder of the football season match-ups are Vista del Lago at Cordova, Roseville at Del Campo, Sheldon vs. Franklin at Cosumnes Oaks, River City (making its first-ever appearance on Game of the Week) at Inderkum, Grant at Monterey Trail, Del Campo at Antelope, Pleasant Grove at Sheldon, and Oak Ridge at Folsom.

The games will be announced by Play-by-Play broadcaster Will James, CIF Hall of Famer Jim Dimino, and Sideline Reporter Rick Stewart.

All games may be seen on Comcast or Consolidated Communications cable channel 17, and AT&T U-Verse channel 14. Live regular season game will be streamed from AccessSacramento.org, and additionally, on the NFHS Network. CIF playoff football will be on cable, but will only be streamed from the NFHS Network website.

Presenting a grand highlight to its sports presentations, Access Sacramento will boast new and improved production qualities for the 2016-2017 Game-of-the-Week broadcast slate with the introduction of its newly acquired high definition broadcast truck; definitely the source of sights to behold.

Jesuit’s Christian Dyer was named Access Sacramento’s Player of the Game for the Marauders, the 6-2 defensive safety is a team leader, and as the PAT kick holder, also threw a pass to Garrett Kay for a two-point conversion in the third quarter.

All of Jesuit’s TD’s came on the ground. Lorenzo Burkes had runs of 11-yards and one-yard in the first quarter, Dalvin Jamal-Milton scored from four-yards in the 2nd quarter, Quarterback Calvin Bownholtz scored from three-yards in the 3rd quarter, and Luke Thayer ran in from eight-yards in the 4th quarter.

Sheldon’s Graylon Lindsey was named Access Sacrament’s Player of the Game for the Huskies, picking up 61 yards on 13 carries as the games leader ground gainer.

Sheldon’s offense held the ball for 28 minutes to just 20 for Jesuit, but the Marauder’s defense grabbed two interceptions and a fumble recovery to stall Sheldon’s drives. Jesuit’s total offense picked up 244 yards on 48 plays, while Sheldon had 197 yard on 46 plays.

Jesuit moves to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in league play, tied for third place in the Delta League with three other schools. Sheldon is 2-5 overall and 0-4 in league play.

Access Sacramento’s Game of the Week will broadcast the two undefeated 4-0 Capital Valley Conference teams, Antelope at Del Campo, live on Fri. Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.